Thursday, December 2, 2010

Christmas Bear Craft

The Man of the House had to go back into the office, last night, after supper. So, I seized the opportunity for some late night, messy crafting, with the girls.

When, I checked out Kestutis Kasparavicius' The Bear Family's World Tour Christmas, from the library, it was because I thought it would be a Christmas-around-the-world sort of book. It turns out to be more about bears around the world, than about Christmas, as a bear family takes their house, attached to a hot air balloon, and travels the world to help all of their relatives, in distant lands decorate for Christmas.

In keeping with the book, I found a Christmas bear, paper doll print-out, here (the Internet can be a mother's best friend). I printed two copies as 5"x7" prints, then flipped the picture, and printed them again, so each of the younger girls, could have two bears, that sit facing each other. While their older sisters went to work helping to cut them out, the younger girls made houses for them to decorate for Christmas.

I gave them each a cardboard house cutout, along with a fireplace shape, an oval for a rug, and dryer sheet boxes.

They painted the boxes brown. We used acrylic paint, because it dries quickly, and is very easy to clean up, with soap, and water (though it can stain clothing).

Then, colored, and glued the house fronts, to the flaps of the boxes, with the bottom of the house, touching the fold of the lid...

...so they open to reveal the "house" interiors, where they glued the fireplaces, and placed the rugs.

They have some more decorating to do, but at that point, it was time to clean up the mess, and put on jammies, before Daddy arrived home, tired from work. Though, we left the houses out, so he could see what the girls had been up to (minus all the wet paint, and paper clippings).

I need girls!! I mean, I think boys would like this book and project but girls probably would devote more time to it. My son has to be the big bad wolf and destroy every house-like structure in sight!! Anyway, great project! And you're right, you can find anything on the internet.

I love the bears and their houses! This looks like a fun project and it came out really cute! This was one of my favorite crafts posted this week and I've linked up to it here: http://play2grow.blogspot.com/2010/12/weekly-favorites-december-5-2010.html

Hi there! What a great blog you have! I’d love for your to link up to my Tot Tuesdays linky party. Its every Tuesday and a chance to link up crafts, activities, tips, recipes and educational resources for all things TODDLER related. I hope you’ll stop by. Have a great day!

About Me

I'm a homeschool mom of six. My family has been homeschooling for about seventeen years. And, each year, we've learned a little more about having fun, and spending less, while learning more. It's great to be a homeschooler!

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I'm very happy to share ideas, and thoughts with you. I try to give credit to others when they inspire, or add instructions to a project, and ask that you do the same for me. You may copy ideas and pictures from this blog as long as you give credit and link back to the original post. Thanks

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